Line-casting machine.



J. R. ROGERS.

LINE CASTING MAOHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEBlE. 1910. 95 ,31 7,, Patented May 17,1910.

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J. R. ROGERS.

LINE CASTING MAOHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.5, 1910.

958,317, T v Patented May 17,1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

JOHN R. ROGERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MERGENTHALER LINOTYPECOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LINE-CASTING MACHINE.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. ROGERS, of the borough of Brooklyn, countyof Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Line-Gasting Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to linecasting machines in which circulatingmatrices are composed temporarily in line and presented to a mold forthe purpose of forming type characters on printing slugs or linotypescast therein. It has special reference 'to machines provided with twomagazines, each containing a font or set of matrices and each combinedwith a distributer mechanism for returning the matrices to theirappropriate channels in the magazine.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for directingthe matrices in the composed line to the proper magazine, and thiswhether the line is composed of matrices from one or both magazines. Tothis end I provide the matrices of the respective sets or fonts withprojections located on opposite sides of the central line, and I providein advance of the two distributers a mechanism to which the composedline is presented endwise, this mechanism including divergent rails orguides which act upon the projections on the matrices in such manner asto push them right and left as they are advanced toward the distributer,the matrices of each font being in this manner delivered to the properdistributer.

In the drawings I have shown only the parts to which my improvementrelates, and it is to be understood that all other parts of the machinemay be of any known or suitable construction, my improvement beingapplicable to various machines now well known in the art.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showingmatrices of two different fonts, constructed in accordance with myinvention with distinguishing projections to cooperate with separatingdevices. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the receiving ends of twodistributer mechanisms, together with my improved devices in operativerelation thereto. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 33 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed February 5, 1910.

Patented May 17, 1914] Serial No. 542,200.

in vertical section, looking toward the dis tributer on the line H ofFig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A, A repre sent two fixed paralleldistributer bars designed to distribute matrices of difi'erent fonts orsets into the upper ends of two magazines, or into throats leadingthereto.

B, B are horizontal screws lying adjacent to the distributer bars, forthe purpose of carrying the matrices along the same to the variouspoints at which they are delivered into the magazines below.

C, C represent two distributer lift boxes, so-called, for lifting thematrices from the ends of the composed lines one at a time to the feedscrews and respective distributer bars.

D is a matrix lift carried by a vertical swinging lever E, and providedwith a horizontally toothed bar (5 adapted to engage the teeth on theupper end of the matrices F, and thus hold the composed line insuspension. This elevator serves to lift the composed line from thelower part of the machine to a point in advance of the distributerspreparatory to its distribution. The line may be composed wholly ofmatrices from either magazine or of matrices from both magazines.

So far as described the parts may be in all respects similar to thosedescribed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 436,531, or of anyequivalent construction.

The object of my invention as described is to deliver the matrices fromthe elevator D to the appropriate or corresponding distributers, inorder that they may be re turned to the magazines from which they weredelivered. To this end I proceed as follows: I construct the matrices F,as shown in Fig. 1, in all respects in the ordinary manner, except thatthe matrices of one font are provided at the lower end with a projectionf, located on one side of the center, while those of the other font areprovided with a corresponding projection 1 on the opposite side of thecenter, this differentiation in the form of matrices belonging to therespective fonts being for the purpose of enabling the separatingmechanism to distinguish between them and deliver them from the composedline in different or divergent paths to the respective distributers.Between the distributer boxes C, C and the point to which the matrixline is raised by the elevator D I fix a stationary, horizontal plate G,upon and over which the matrix line is advanced endwise by means of ahorizontal pusher H attached to a sup porting slide in the main frame.This pusher is similar to the one used in the commercial Mergenthalermachine, except that its end is forked in order that it may straddle thetoothed bar (Z, and widened horizontally so that it may act against themat rices as they are separated edgewise and thus carry them, throughthe guides hereinafter described, into the respective lift boxes 0 and Cfrom which they are raised one at a time by the ordinary lifting fingersC to the distributer screws and rails. The plate G which gives supportto the matrices advancing toward the distributer contains grooves g andg to receive the projections on the lower ends of the matrices. At thereceiving end these grooves are separated by a narrow rib and as theyapproach the distributer boxes they gradually diverge horizontally, sothat as the matrix line is advanced the matrices will be caused to moveedgewise to the right or left to such a distance that they may becarried into separate distributer boxes. The plate G is preferablyprovided with lips to overlap the ears of the matrices and assist inguiding and hold ing them in position as they are advanced toward thedistributer. I also recommend the use of the overlying fixed rails 9* tobear against the outer edges of the matrices near the upper ends, toassist in guiding and sustaining them. Immediately in advance of thedistributer boxes I propose to employ a centrally fixed rail to insurethe full separation of matrices belonging to the separate fonts, and toassist in guiding them into the boxes as they are advanced by the pusherH.

It will be observed that the separated matrices are guided positively atthe lower ends by the grooves g, 9 and at the upper ends by the members9 and 9 between which they pass. It is to be noted that the pusher Hacts first to deliver the composed line from the elevator D to theseparating devices above described, and also to urge the separatedmatrices forward to the respective distributer boxes C and C by whichthe individual matrices are lifted from the ends of the respectivelines, in a well known manner, to the distributer rails and screws. Ifthe composed line consists entirely of matrices from one magazine, theywill all pass through the one groove to the right or left, as the casemay be, and into the corresponding distributer boxes; but if the line iscomposed of matrices from both magazines, they will be separatededgewise by means of the ears and grooves as they advance toward thedistributer boxes, and each box will receive only the matrices belongingto the corresponding distributer.

It will be observed that in my mechanism the matrices are graduallyseparated edgewise while still in the composed line, and before theyreach the devices by which they are lifted to the distributers.

I am aware that the matrices have been pulled apart edgewise by means ofdivergent, dove-tailed rails engaging corresponding notches in thevertical edges of the matrices, but in practice this construction isopen to the objection that the notches are liable to become filled withmolten metal, and to the further objection that the matrices are subjectto undue wear and friction in traveling along the rails. It will beobserved that my construction avoids the necessity of notching orotherwise cutting into the matrices. The projections on the lower endsof the matrices are of such form and so located that the projection onthe foot of one matrix will enter the notch on the top of the next, sothat there is no interference with the operation of the matrices in theordinary magazine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a line casting machine matrices of one font having projections,and matrices of another font having projections in a different position,in combination with divergent guides to engage said projections and pushthe matrices in the composed line apart edgewise and means for movingthe composed lines endwise along said guides.

2. The combination with matrices provided respectively with projectionsf and P, a guide G having divergent grooves g and g to engage theprojections on the matrices, and means adapted to move a composed lineof matrices along said guides, whereby separation of the matricesedgewise may be effected.

3. In combination, the two distributers, the distributer boxes fordelivering individual matrices thereto, a matrix line elevator D, acarrier H to deliver the composed matrix lines therefrom, a matrixsupport G provided with divergent guides to engage the projections onthe lower ends of the matrices, matrices having bottom pro jections toengage the respective guides.

4:. In combination with matrices differing in form, means for advancinga composed line of said matrices, and stationary divergent guides,adapted to push the matrices of different forms in the composed lineedgewise in opposite directions as the line advances.

5. Matrices of different fonts, differing in form at their lower ends,in combination with a support to underlie the composed line, saidsupport provided with divergent guides, adapted to separate the matrices958,317 &

edgewise, and stationary guides in position elevate the separatedmatrices to the respecto engage the upper ends of the separated tivedistributers.

matrices. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my 6. In a mechanism forseparating matrices hand this third day of December, 1909, in

5 of 3W0 tongs, matrices differing in form acthe presence of twoattesting Witnesses.

cor ing to ont, divergent guides to separate T the matrices edgewise,means for feeding the JOHL ROGERS composed lines of matrices along saidguides, Witnesses:

two distributers to receive the separated matv HAROLD A. BURT,

10 rices, and two lift mechanisms, adapted to LUcY E. SMITH.

